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It’s often said that donating blood just one time can save three lives. What is rarely heard is how one blood drive can be just enough to save a single life.

But it’s true, said Lindsay English, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross in Louisville.

“In a serious car accident, you can use 30 or more units,” English said. “If you think about it, that is a successful blood drive right there—just one.”

And right now, blood donations from across the U.S. are dwindling.

Donations are down 8 percent in the last 11 weeks, meaning nearly 80,000 fewer donations have been collected than initially projected, English said.

English said the need for blood is always present.

“In the U.S., someone needs blood every two seconds,” she said.

Blood has a shelf life of 42 days and residents are encouraged to donate blood every 56 days, English said.

Eligible donors with types O negative, B negative and A negative blood are especially needed at this time. Type O negative is the universal blood type and can be transfused to anyone who needs blood. Types A negative and B negative can be transfused to Rh positive or negative patients, according to a Red Cross news release.

If donations boost in the coming weeks, the organization will nearly miss slipping into an emergency situation, English said.

She said the last time the American Red Cross issued an emergency for a blood shortage was during the winter months when temperatures rarely climbed above the freezing mark, keeping many potential donors indoors.

The summer months are also a difficult time for collecting blood donations, as many people stay out of the heat and many families are on vacation, she said.

Also, nearly 20 percent of donations come from students in high school and college, English said. When those students are not in class, they don’t donate blood, shrinking the supply.

Multiple blood drives are scheduled in Louisville and throughout southern Indiana through the beginning of August.